special occasions, from quinceañeras (a 15-year-old girl's formal birthday cel-
ebration), to trips abroad, to weddings. Traditions of celebration are vener-
ated, calling for fairs, parades, dancing, and serenades throughout the year.
At the end of every December the Avenida Central, a main thoroughfare in
downtown San José, is blocked off to traffic so pedestrians can meander
around in the midst of swirling confetti, intent on seeing and being seen.

Both the warmth and frequency of social interactions are legendary. It is
not uncommon for a simple invitation to an afternoon café (coffee) to extend
for hours into the evening, and to include all of the family and other ac-
quaintances who happen to stop by. The Costa Rican psyche is loath to
offend by leaving anyone out; in fact, a party is not a party without both
family and friends present.

This nation of contrasts inspires affectionate praise from visitors and res-
idents alike. Costa Rica merits a closer look at the factors shaping its vision
of itself and the outside world. This book intends to address these and other
questions of cultural relevance.

-xviii-